Harpoon-fork.



F. R. LINDSTROM.

HARPOON FORK.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 22, 1911.

irn srans FRANK R. LINDSTROM, OF MILACA, MINNESOTA.

HARPOON-FORK.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed January 22, 1917. Ser1'a1No. 143,747.

To all wlwm t may] concern: l

Be it known that I, FRANK R. LINDsTRoM, a citizen of the lUnited States, residing at Milaca, in the county of Millelacs, State of Minnesota, have invented certain newv and useful Improvements in Harpoon-Forks; and I do hereb f decla-re the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to hay forks of the harpoon type, and relates more particularly to an improvement on my Patent No. 1,205,761 issued November 21, 1916.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved tripping mechanism for employment in connection with the structure disclosed in my prior patent. Y

The invention further proposes a single line tripping mechanism for the barb points of the fork whereby their simultaneous actuation to release the load will be assured.

With the above and other objects of simi-v lar nature in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a hay fork embodying the improved tripping mechanism, the same being shown in inactive position,

Fig 2 is a rear view thereof with the tripping meohanism in releasing position parts being broken away,

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 8 3 of Fig. 1, and v Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the fork comprises the usual frame 10 including a cross head 11 and spaced parallel leg portions 12, resulting in a longitudinal slot 13 and Aterminating at their free ends in sharpened points 14. Bridging the legs 12 .adjacent their point of connection with the cross head 11 are spaced transverse bracing members 15. Pivoted at one end between said members are a pair of operating handles 16, the upper ends of which project above and are slidably engaged` as at 17 with the cross head rand adapted for swing movement relatively thereto.

Within the slot 13 adjacent the extremiin their other position extend at right angles to the legs and 4thus grasp the load lirmly .v

so that it may be elevated yto the desired height. Pivotally engaged at their lower ends with the barbs 18 and at their upper ends with rocker links 19 disposed above the brace bars 15, are connecting arms 20, which arms serve to transmit motion to the barbs when it is desired to adjust same to grasp the load.

Additional linksv21 are employed between the rocker links 19 and handles 16 so that by operating the latter the barbs 18 may be conveniently adjusted. To lock the handles 16 to the cross head 11 so that the barbs 18 will be in alinement with the legs 12, there is mounted on the cross head, a spring plate 22, said plate being secured in position by means of bolts 23 and having its ends bent to provide resilient clips 24 adapted to releasably engage the related handle. It is thus evident that the fork may be readily plunged into a body of hay without danger of displacing the barbs 18 and that, when it is desired to operate the latter to grasp the load, the handles are merely disengaged from the clips and swung outwardly on their pivots and the barbs thus operated through the medium of the link and arm connection above described. It will be noted that in this position the upper ends of the arms 20 will be disposed inwardly of the pivot points of the rocker links 19 and any tendency for downward movement of the barbs under the influence of the load will thus be prevented.

In order to simultaneously release the barb points 18, there is pivoted at 26 between the bracing members 15 an L-shaped lever 27 provided in one end with an eye 28 in which is engaged one end of a trip line 29. Pivotally connected with the lever 27 at opposite sides of its pivot arey the inner ends of a pair of oppositely extending operating bars 30, said bars being disposed between the bracing members 15 and being slotted longitudinally at 31 intermediate their ends to receive the pivot bolts 32 in which the handles 16 are mounted. The outer or free ends of the bars 30 are adapted for engagement with the connecting arms 20 so that by pulling upon the trip line 29 the lever 27 and bers 3() will be moved to the .position shown in Fig. 2 thereby forcing the arms ZO outwardly beyond the 'Center lines between the pivots of the barb pointe 18 und links 19, whereupon the barb will move under the inluenoevof the load inthe orkL into 4eline-- 'ment with tlie legs 12, the load being then released and the handles t16"swt-i115; li'nwaf'rdiy andlooked beneath the slips 24.

A h'ai'rpoon -forli eoni')rising'en inverted to the frame, Cross bar sedare@ in the rane 'spoed frein its "Closed end, hendls I 'bei' and operatively oineete'd with tlebbs vto move `nd Irete-in the letter in carrying position, en L-Shaped lever lpivoted to the cross ber, and opera-ting bai-s pivoted to vt'lie lever on opposite sides of its exis of movement and having slotted portions receiving the pivots for said hendlesI to -'guide the outer ends of said opereting bars into abutting engagement witlrtle oiicti's Eloetw-een the barbsend handles, substantially as described. Y

In testimony vvlieoi l -aHX iny' sin'a'- ture, 'in the resenoe Aof two witnesses.

FRANK R. LINDSTROM.

Witnesses:

bepm bf feiispeteift niay fue cutanea ffo'r frye lee-ies eh, my taaie-ssii@ fcbinnsswner einem,

- Y wegnemen-bfc. l 

